Manny Pacquiao to fight Jeff Horn in Australia, July 2

Manny Pacquiao will go back to the boxing ring this July 2 with a fight against a little-known former schoolteacher who never expected he’d get a shot at such a legend of the ring.

Pacquiao will take on Australian Jeff Horn on July 2 at Brisbane’s 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium in a defense of Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title.

Promoters for Horn, a 29-year-old and the No. 2 contender, had been working on a possible deal to fight Pacquiao since January, and finally made the announcement on Sunday with state government officials in attendance.

Pacquiao and his camp had attempted to line-up a higher-paying fight with Britain’s Amir Khan in the Middle East which never eventuated, stalling the negotiations for several months.

The 38-year-old Pacquiao is an 11-time world champion in over eight weight divisions and is now a senator in the Philippines. He has a record of 59-6-2 while Horn is 16-0-1.

The bout, being dubbed by organizers at “Australia’s biggest-ever fight,” is expected to be held at the open-air stadium around midday or early afternoon Sunday, July 2, coinciding with a prime-time television audience back in the United States on the Saturday night, July 1.

The fight was secured by the Queensland state government and the city of Brisbane.

“Up to 55,000 boxing fans from across Australia and the world are expected to fill Suncorp Stadium to see the local teacher taking on one of the biggest names in boxing history, on his home turf,” said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“The match is a highlight on the state’s major events calendar and is set to deliver an economic boost to the city.”